CD Review: Changing Tide by Kenny Carr (June 5, 2008)
California-based guitarist Kenny Carr served as a sideman with the legendary Ray Charles for over ten years. He is one of many players that are not yet household names. Musicians such as Carr perform huge roles with major acts and largely go unnoticed except by fellow players.
Changing Tide is Carr’s third release since 2005. It opens with an up tempo unison melody line played with Grammy nominated tenor saxophonist Donny Mc Caslin. The tune is titled “The Chase.” Right from the start it becomes apparent that the listener has much to be excited about musically...
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CD Review: Freshly Painted Blues - The "Be-Bop" Guitars (May 8, 2008)
Freshly Painted Blues is the second recording of this fine ensemble comprised of members of the faculty at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Spearheaded by John Baboian the group provides an enjoyable 68 minutes of music. The guitarists involved are Baboian, Larry Baione, Garrison Fewell, John Marasco and John Wilkins. They are joined by Jerry Seeco (trumpet, fluegelhorn, flute and alto flute) and Rich Greenblatt (vibes). The rhythm section consists of Ron Mahdi (acoustic bass) and John Hazilla (drums)...
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CD Review: Everybody's Got A Name by Greg Chako (April 5, 2008)
Greg Chako is a very fine guitar player. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and attended Berklee College of Music for three years. Most of his life has been spent in the Far East with gigs in China and Singapore.
Everybody's Got A Name is his ninth album as the leader and a true showcase of his skills. “Boppin at Berlitz” is the opening track. It is a relaxed tempo that maintains a nice swinging groove throughout. Chako has a full, rich tone and his phrasing shows his commitment to preserving the mainstream genre. Whether playing single note lines or chordal passages, his solos are very well crafted. There is never a doubt as to the harmony that he is hearing as he improvises...
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CD Review: Subject to Change - Bill Hart (March 31, 2008)
Bill Hart is currently based in Atlanta, GA. He has been head of the guitar program at the Atlanta Institute of Music for fifteen years. Born and raised in Canada he began playing guitar at a very early age. His early influences were Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page. After hearing a jazz guitarist playing in a music store Hart decided to explore that intriguing style. He attended Guitar Institute of Technology in Hollywood, California and graduated with honors. While there, Hart had the opportunity to study with Mike Stern, Steve Kahn and Wayne Krantz. He has opened for jazz greats such as Herbie Hancock, Acoustic Alchemy and Yellow Jackets. His style is similar to his mentors, but maintains its own unique voice...
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Book Review: Improvising - My Life in Music - Larry Coryell (May 15, 2007)
Autobiographies can be written in several different ways. Some are sterile and simply factual in their presentation, while others tend to be self-serving and overblown merely for sensationalism. In
Improvising - My Life in Music, Larry Coryell tells the story of his life in music in a calm and measured fashion. The reader immediately forms a bond with the honest and open narrator, making this a truly wonderful adventure to be shared with the author from start to finish...
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